U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams handed down the 135-month sentence after Fahie was convicted of conspiring to traffic cocaine and launder money.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Fahie, who served as premier from 2019 to 2022, agreed to facilitate the smuggling of large quantities of Colombian cocaine through British Virgin Islands ports, destined for Miami. In return, he expected to earn millions of dollars, which he planned to launder through various businesses or smuggle back to the British Virgin Islands.
During the trial, evidence revealed that in March and April 2022, Fahie, along with Oleanvine Pickering Maynard, managing director of the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority, and her son, Kadeem Stephan Maynard, met with an individual they believed to be a drug trafficker from the infamous Mexican Sinaloa Cartel. They allegedly discussed plans to secure licenses, protect drug-laden boats in the British Virgin Islands, and bribe government officials to keep the operation running smoothly.
The group initially planned to move 3,000 kilograms of cocaine as a test shipment, with intentions to continue similar operations once or twice a month for four months, hoping to secure a share of the profits from the drug sales.
In April 2022, Fahie and Maynard were arrested in Miami as they were about to collect a US$700,000 cash advance. Kadeem Maynard was arrested in St. Thomas.
Both Oleanvine Pickering Maynard and her son pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine. Oleanvine was sentenced to 112 months in prison, while Kadeem received a 57-month sentence.
